NEW YORK NEWS
New York City Mayor Eric Adams embarked on a three-day trip to Israel, where he engaged in discussions with interfaith leaders in Jerusalem about combating antisemitism and promoting tolerance. Mayor Adams, known for his faith-driven values, emphasized the need for religious principles to be translated into meaningful actions amid rising global tensions. He encouraged the application of teachings from places of worship to the broader world to address catastrophic themes and heal nations. This visit comes as anti-Semitic violence continues in New York City, with Adams maintaining good relations with various Jewish communities. The mayor’s trip was sponsored by the New York UJA-Federation and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.
Samuel Miele, a campaign aide to Representative George Santos, has been charged with wire fraud and identity theft in a federal indictment for orchestrating deceptive fundraising emails and calls impersonating a high-ranking House aide, who remains unnamed, in an effort to solicit campaign contributions. Miele, 27, claimed association with a House member with leadership responsibilities and received a 15 percent commission from successful donations. The indictment does not directly implicate Santos, but news outlets have previously reported that Miele posed as the former chief of staff of Speaker Kevin McCarthy to solicit funds for Santos’s campaign. Miele’s arraignment took place in federal court in Brooklyn, where he pleaded not guilty and was released on $150,000 bond. The indictment cites Miele’s fraudulent emails and communications, noting that he signed messages with the impersonated staffer’s official title. If convicted, Miele could face a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. Miele’s case is linked to the ongoing legal proceedings against Representative Santos, who has been charged with multiple counts of financial misconduct.
New York City officials are proposing to house migrants in a former federal jail, the Metropolitan Correctional Center, as a way to alleviate pressure on overcrowded homeless shelters due to the influx of around 100,000 migrants who have arrived in the city since the previous year after crossing the southern U.S. border. The proposal has raised concerns, as the jail was previously criticized for its squalid conditions and security issues before its closure in 2021, and advocacy groups argue that it is not suitable for providing support to asylum seekers building new lives. The proposal comes amid tensions between New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul’s administrations on how to address the migrant influx. The city is seeking alternative housing solutions, including using state-owned properties or federal sites for housing migrants.
New York City has instructed its employees to remove TikTok from their city-provided phones, aligning with the federal government and over half of the U.S. states in prohibiting the use of the Chinese-owned social media platform on government-issued devices. The decision, made due to security concerns, was supported by the city’s top information security officials, who determined that TikTok posed a risk to the city’s technical networks. The federal government and many states have taken similar steps, with worries that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, might share user data with the Chinese government. TikTok officials have disputed cybersecurity apprehensions. New York state had previously banned TikTok’s use on state-owned devices, with some exemptions for promotional accounts.
The NYPD is searching for two teenagers in connection with an attack on an Orthodox Jewish man in Borough Park. The incident occurred when the scooter’s passenger approached a 49-year-old Chasidic man, made an unknown statement, and knocked the man’s yarmulke to the ground. The attacker then left the scene on the scooter. The incident is being investigated as an aggravated harassment/hate crime by the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force. A similar incident was reported in Williamsburg, but it is unclear if the two are related. Police are seeking the public’s help in locating the individuals, described as having medium complexions and thin builds, with detailed clothing descriptions provided.
A massive 6-alarm fire in Williamsburg destroyed several businesses on Lee Avenue. The blaze, which started in a chocolate shop, spread to at least nine nearby retail stores, including a toy store and a kebab grill, impacting Williamsburg’s Hasidic community. Firefighters arrived quickly after the initial call, and the firefighting efforts were challenging due to locked stores. Fortunately, there were no life-threatening injuries among the 10 FDNY members injured during the response. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
US NEWS
Hawaii Governor Josh Green revealed that more than 1,000 individuals remain unaccounted for after a devastating fire hit Maui’s Lahaina town earlier this month. The fire, declared the deadliest fire in the U.S. in over a century with over 100 confirmed lives lost, has led to criticism of President Joe Biden’s response. Governor Green mentioned that challenges in identifying remains persist, as the impact zone has been extensively covered by search and rescue teams and dogs, with the last 15 percent of the area requiring weeks for search efforts. Despite concerns that some remains may be impossible to recover meaningfully due to the intensity of the fire, state officials, in collaboration with the FBI, are working to identify any remains that are found.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are set to visit Hawaii for the first time since severe wildfires claimed over 100 lives, a visit that comes amid criticism from various quarters regarding Biden’s response to the disaster. During their visit, the couple will meet with emergency responders, survivors, community members, and officials, touring the impacted areas and addressing the devastation. President Biden will also appoint FEMA Region 9 Administrator Bob Fenton as the Chief Federal Response Coordinator to oversee a long-term coordinated federal recovery effort. The visit follows earlier scrutiny of Biden’s response, particularly his initial comment of “no comment” when asked about Hawaii’s rising death toll, which was criticized as dismissive.
Tropical Storm Hilary, previously a category 4 hurricane, made landfall in Mexico and Southern California, bringing record rains to parts of California and impacting Nevada and Arizona as well. This marked Southern California’s first tropical storm in over 80 years. The storm caused power outages, emergencies, and at least one death in Mexico. President Joe Biden pledged assistance for rapid response and search-and-rescue operations. Amid the storm, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck parts of Southern California, causing further disruptions. Local officials urged residents to be cautious of flash flood warnings and stay home as cleanup and assessment efforts were underway. The storm broke rainfall records in Los Angeles, leading to flooding and the closure of Death Valley National Park. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency ahead of the storm’s arrival.
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Southern California north of Los Angeles on Sunday, causing residents to brace themselves amid the approaching Tropical Storm Hilary. The quake, which occurred at 2:41 p.m. local time near Ojai in Ventura County, prompted no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Several smaller aftershocks followed. Despite being widely felt across Ventura County, there was no tsunami threat, as confirmed by the U.S. Tsunami Warning System. The earthquake coincided with ongoing rainfall in Southern California as Tropical Storm Hilary approached the region after affecting the Baja California peninsula earlier in the day.
Former President Donald Trump announced that he will surrender to authorities in Georgia to face charges related to allegedly scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. This marks his fourth arrest since becoming the first former US president to face indictment. The charges involve attempts to undermine the 2020 election results in Georgia. Trump’s bond has been set at $200,000, and the conditions of his release include not intimidating co-defendants, witnesses, or victims on social media. Trump’s surrender comes after his attorneys met with prosecutors in Atlanta to discuss the details of his release on bond. Despite his legal troubles, Trump remains a leading candidate for the Republican presidential nomination for the 2024 election.
The Biden administration has been quietly auctioning off unused parts of the border wall constructed during former President Trump’s administration, in apparent efforts to dispose of these materials before legislation is passed that would require their use. Up to $300 million worth of wall components funded by taxpayers have been left unused since Biden took office. So far, the sale of these materials garnered $2 million. The Finish It Act, which aims to utilize these materials for new wall construction or provide them to states like Texas for their own border defense projects, was recently introduced in the Senate. The auction of these materials comes as the Biden administration faces criticism over its handling of the border crisis and its impact on national security.
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate has risen to its highest level in over 20 years, reaching 7.09% for the benchmark 30-year home loan, up from 6.96% the previous week, according to Freddie Mac. This marks the fourth consecutive weekly increase and the highest rate since 2002. The rise in rates adds financial strain to prospective homebuyers in an already competitive housing market with limited inventory. The increase is attributed to the recent surge in the 10-year Treasury yield, which affects mortgage rates, and is driven by reports of a resilient U.S. economy and concerns about inflation. The lack of housing supply, exacerbated by higher rates, has contributed to a decline in home sales by 23% in the first half of the year.
The upcoming iPhone models, expected to be released in September, are rumored to include a USB Type-C charging port, replacing Apple’s proprietary Lightning port. This change could align iPhones with the industry-standard USB-C connector, found on laptops, Android phones, and various other devices. The adoption of USB-C would offer benefits such as standardization for charging, faster charging speeds, and compatibility with a wide range of devices. The European Union’s regulation mandating USB-C ports on new smartphones by 2024 is also influencing this shift. While Apple hasn’t officially confirmed the change, experts believe it’s inevitable due to regulatory requirements and consumer benefits. However, the transition might introduce complexities related to cable quality and compatibility.
Israel NEWS
Two Israeli men, a father and son, were fatally shot in a terrorist attack in the West Bank town of Huwara. The attack occurred inside a carwash, with the victims identified as Shay Silas Nigreker, 60, and his son Aviad Nir, 28. The assailant approached them on foot, opened fire at close range, and then fled the scene. The Israeli Defense Forces launched a manhunt and closed roads in the area. The victims were in Huwara for personal errands, as some goods and services are cheaper in the West Bank than in Israel, and were standing by their car at the carwash when the attack took place.
Israel’s Defense Ministry has announced its largest-ever defense deal, selling the advanced missile defense system Arrow 3 to Germany for $3.5 billion, following approval from the United States. The system, designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles, was jointly developed by Israel and the U.S. The deal strengthens the defense relationship between Israel and the U.S., while Germany’s acquisition of the system extends its defense capability. The deal, though normal for Israel’s relations with western European countries, could attract Russia’s attention, given Israel’s working relations with Moscow during the Ukraine conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu termed the deal “historic.”
Paraguay’s newly-elected conservative president, Santiago Peña, has announced the country’s decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv back to Jerusalem, a relocation that was previously made in 2018 but reversed by a former leader. The move is set to take place by the end of the year, and in response, Israel will reopen its embassy in Paraguay’s capital, Asunción. This announcement follows Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen’s visit to South America, during which he also revealed that Uruguay would establish a “branch of the Uruguayan Embassy” in Jerusalem. The move of embassies to Jerusalem remains a contentious issue due to differing territorial claims and its potential impact on the prospects of a two-state solution.
Tower Semiconductor, an Israeli chipmaker, faced uncertainty when its $5.4 billion merger with Intel was canceled. As Intel relied on Tower’s chip facilities to establish its chip manufacturing arm, the cancellation raised questions about Tower’s fate. Amid tensions between China and the U.S., India aims to enter the chip market, targeting $300 billion in electronics production by 2026, with $60 billion for chip manufacturing. Tower was to lead a consortium for a $3 billion chip production facility in India, but the merger with Intel and regulatory delays disrupted those plans. However, Tower, set to receive a $375 million compensation fee, could leverage it to explore growth prospects in India, where incentives for chip manufacturing are increasing.
Around 100,000 people took advantage of a day of free travel to celebrate the launch of passenger services on Tel Aviv’s Red Line light rail on August 18. The Red Line, developed by NTA Metropolitan Mass Transit System, is the first of three light rail and three metro routes being developed to serve Tel Aviv. The backbone of the future network totals 24 route-km and 34 stops, with 12 km and 10 stops underground. The line is fully accessible, and the underground stations can serve as civil defense shelters. The construction of the Red Line began in 2015 and cost $4.74 billion.
WORLD NEWS
Ukraine has threatened to close its borders to Israeli pilgrims traveling to the city of Uman for Rosh HaShanah in retaliation for Israel deporting Ukrainian tourists. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concerns about the treatment of Ukrainian citizens in foreign countries, implicitly referring to Israel. Ukraine’s Ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, stated that they may suspend bilateral visa waiver deals and not host Israeli pilgrims if the mistreatment issue is not addressed. Israel’s Interior and Health Minister Moshe Arbel rejected claims of mistreatment, and tensions arise as Israel expects thousands of pilgrims for Rosh Hashanah in Uman.
An offshore drilling rig has arrived in the Mediterranean Sea off Lebanon’s coast and is set to begin operations in the coming weeks to search for gas. The rig will start drilling in Lebanese waters near the border with Israel after both countries reached a maritime border agreement. This effort is a part of Lebanon’s hopes to find gas reserves to alleviate its severe economic and financial crisis. The rig, named Transocean Barents, will be used for exploration by an international consortium. The drilling results are anticipated within two to three months, and the deal between Lebanon and Israel divides the disputed waters along a designated line, with gas production taking place on the Lebanese side.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has suspended all of its services in Lebanon’s largest refugee camp, Ein el-Hilweh, in protest against the presence of gunmen within its facilities. The decision follows days of street battles between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah group and two Islamic militant groups, resulting in casualties and extensive damage in the camp. UNRWA stated that armed fighters remain in its facilities, including schools, and called on them to vacate to ensure the delivery of essential assistance to refugees. The camp, with over 50,000 residents, is the largest of the 12 Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.
Hungary has signed an agreement with Israeli and German companies to manufacture combat drones as part of its efforts to modernize its military and defense industry. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the cooperation with Israeli defense technology company UVision and an unspecified German partner. Orban emphasized that such collaborations signal strength and deterrence, while highlighting other developments in Hungary’s defense industry, including the opening of a combat vehicle factory and a modern ammunition factory, as well as the acquisition of a Czech aircraft manufacturer. The growth of Hungary’s military industry aligns with its call for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine while emphasizing the importance of strength for peace.
